Achi news desk-
The Tory MP at the center of the Westminster honey trap phishing scandal has voluntarily given up the Tory whip.
William Wragg’s decision came a day after he resigned as vice-chairman of the Conservative backbench committee in 1922, as well as chairman of the House of Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee.
Last week the 36-year-old admitted he had given other MPs’ phone numbers to a person he met on the dating app Grindr.
Wragg said he had been “weakened” after becoming concerned the man had “compromising” material on him.
A statement from the Tory whips’ office tonight said: “Following Will Wragg’s decision to step back from his roles on the public accounts and 1922 committees, he has also informed the chief whip that he is stepping down as the whip of the Conservatives by choice.”
Senior Tories stood by Wragg after the scandal broke, with chancellor Jeremy Hunt praising him for making a “courageous and impassioned apology”.
But several Tory MPs have since broken ranks to voice their anger at Wragg’s behaviour.
Andrea Jenkyns branded Wragg an “idiot” for “compromising safety”, while Conor Burns said he was “reckless, selfish and thoughtless”.
Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator, said: “The fact that it was William Wragg’s responsibility to resign is another indictment of Rishi Sunak’s weakness.
“His MPs were left once again sent out to defend a collapsed position.
“Rishi Sunak puts party management first every time – and he can’t even do that right. It is no way to run a country.
“Britain deserves so much better than this endless Tory chaos.”
Wragg, who is standing down at the next election, told The Times last week: “I had a chat with a guy on an app and we exchanged pictures. We were supposed to meet for drinks, but we didn’t. Then he started asking for numbers of people. I was worried because he had stuff on me. He gave me a WhatsApp number, which is not working now.
“I’ve hurt people by being weak. I was scared. I am mortified. I’m sorry that my weakness has caused other people hurt.”
Those targeted by the phishing attack were sent unsolicited messages on WhatsApp by senders identifying themselves as “Charlie” or “Abi”.
Police and parliamentary authorities have also launched investigations into the scandal.
